Lu Yuan had actually noticed it right from the beginning.
He had simply refrained from speaking because of the sheer weight of the question.
It clearly concerned what followed that Great Tribulation. But after Guangchengzi finished explaining the Great Tribulation, Lu Yuan had suddenly realized several things, and now, he wanted confirmation.
Lu Yuan felt that a figure of such stature invested deep meaning into every single sentence, perhaps even every single word he spoke.
Opposite him, Guangchengzi was momentarily taken aback upon hearing this, then shook his head with a faint smile. "I am not entirely certain myself, so I cannot tell you. Some things you must explore and seek out on your own. When that time comes, perhaps every secret will be unraveled.
"You carry the bloodline of my Huaxia, and I have seen that the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Token chose you. The significance of this is extraordinary.
"As an elder, there is not much I can do, but naturally, I cannot leave you with only empty words.
"Consider this a modest gift for a junior."
As he spoke, a smile surfaced on his face.
He looked just like an amiable elder.
True to his words, he genuinely treated Lu Yuan as a younger generation member of his people.
Soon, Guangchengzi gave a gentle beckoning gesture, and waves of radiance surged forth.
Beneath their feet, the coffin also radiated divine light.
In the next instant, a red gourd abruptly appeared, hovering in midair.
The gourd was not particularly large, nor did it appear remarkable in any way.
One could not even sense the slightest aura emanating from it.
It looked utterly ordinary.
If placed out in the world, not a single Awakened would spare it a second glance.
Yet the moment Lu Yuan saw the red gourd, a look of shock surfaced in his eyes, and his heart trembled. *Could this thing be...*
He had read countless traditional Huaxia myths and legends, memorizing much of them by heart, though he had previously regarded some of them as mere lore.
Even so, he knew that where there was smoke, there was fire, and this gourd before him stirred a flood of memories.
"This object was refined by a dear friend of mine," Guangchengzi said, revealing the red gourd's origins. "However, like me, he perished in the Great Tribulation. The difference is that he did not even leave behind his will or his physical form, vanishing entirely from this world. And this red gourd bears a rather grand name: the Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger!"
It was a resounding, illustrious name.
The Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger.
Lu Yuan had indeed heard this name in certain legends.
"This item is exceptionally formidable; you must use it with great care," Guangchengzi continued. "I know you also possess the Fantian Seal. However, because it followed me through that battle, it was thoroughly damaged, its power reduced to less than a tenth. I can repair it for you, restoring it to half the might it held in its prime."
With that, he waved his hand, and an unfathomable force poured straight into the Fantian Seal.
Lu Yuan noticed that the cracks upon its surface diminished drastically.
A surge of formidable power welled from within.
"My deepest thanks, Immortal Senior." He had truly never expected not only to receive the legendary Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger, but even more importantly, to have the Fantian Seal mostly repaired, its might enhanced even further.
He knew that because of this, his combat prowess would surge yet again, even if his cultivation realm had not changed.
"Very well. My time has almost run out," Guangchengzi spoke once more, his figure growing slightly more translucent.
The vicissitudes of time in his eyes deepened further, accompanied by a touch of reluctance.
Lu Yuan understood.
This senior belonged to this world and wished to stay, yet in the end, it was simply impossible.
"Right, there is one final matter." Guangchengzi pondered for a moment before speaking. "When you first entered this place, that red-furred monster inside the coffin was an Extraterrestrial Demon possessing my will. By defeating it, you also drove it away. But remember, the Extraterrestrial Demons possess manifold methods, and some have remained hidden within the deep cosmos of outer domains all along. If you encounter such creatures, remember—you must kill them."
As he spoke, his expression was solemn beyond measure.
Only those who had faced the Extraterrestrial Demons firsthand knew the true terror of such beings.
Guangchengzi clearly regarded Lu Yuan with immense esteem and placed high hopes upon him.
He had not only shared a great deal, but had also aided him tremendously.
Strictly speaking, Lu Yuan had obtained tremendous fortune here, while also gaining clarity on what the Great Tribulation truly was.
This journey had been monumentally important; it had certainly not been in vain.
Upon hearing Guangchengzi's words, Lu Yuan took a deep breath, nodded, and replied, "Understood, Immortal Senior."
Hearing this, Guangchengzi smiled. He looked toward the sky once more, though in the end, he could not see the world outside. Softly, he said, "I depart."
The moment his words fell, his figure completely vanished.
Like an immortal of legend, he took his leave with effortless grace.
Now, Lu Yuan stood alone before the coffin.
He surveyed the scene before him. The place no longer held anything extraordinary.
All auras had fallen entirely dormant, as though nothing that had transpired had ever occurred.
"This junior respectfully bids farewell to the Immortal Senior." Lu Yuan bowed slightly. He knew the other could no longer perceive it, yet he bowed all the same.
For no other reason than that this was a predecessor of his people, who had perished fighting against the Extraterrestrial Demons.
By every measure, Guangchengzi was worthy of utmost veneration.
Soon, however, Lu Yuan realized another problem.
The sole entrance from before had vanished without a trace.
The question now was: how was he supposed to get out?
This was a secret realm opened by Guangchengzi himself.
Its space was extraordinarily stable.
Forget Lu Yuan's current strength—even if he were to break through directly to become a Great Saint, shattering it would still be impossible.
*Hum, hum, hum—*
Right at that moment, however, he saw bursts of radiant light emerge from the base of the coffin before him.
Layer upon layer of energy drifted out from within. Clearly, this was an exit.
Seeing this, Lu Yuan let out a sigh of relief.
Without another word, he took a step forward and walked inside.
*Buzz.*
In the next instant, his figure vanished.
When he emerged once more, Lu Yuan found that he had already left the ultimate ground and stood outside the colossal mountain.
He could also sense that, perhaps due to the disappearance of the red-furred monster, the strange aura here that did not belong to this world had completely vanished, no longer detectable.
"Extraterrestrial Demons... The Great Tribulation might arrive ten thousand years from now, or perhaps in a century."
Lu Yuan recalled what Guangchengzi had said to him.
He had not specified when the Great Tribulation would descend.
Yet from those words, Lu Yuan knew it could happen at any moment.
More importantly, the senior had said that Extraterrestrial Demons remained hidden within this starry cosmos.
What did the extraterrestrial beings amount to? The true crisis had not even begun.
Shaking his head, Lu Yuan pushed the thoughts aside. He glanced at the towering mountain range before him, then released his divine sense without delay, searching for the traces of Jiang Haokong, Zhu Qingyu, and the others. Soon, however, he opened his eyes.
His brows furrowed deeply.
Because he had found nothing!
Chapter 281